Transit agencies in America’s biggest cities are working with startup Hayden AI to catch drivers blocking the bus by deploying cameras on buses.
Think you can pull over and park in a bus lane to grab your morning latte? Think again — at least in cities using computer vision technology to catch and fine drivers who block bus lanes. As cities across the U.S. invest in new bus lane infrastructure to speed travel times and prevent delays, drivers continue to flout the red (or green) paint. One 2023 study from Philadelphia’s SEPTA recorded 36,000 violations during a 70-day pilot on two bus lines, with half of all bus stops obstructed at least once and 10,000 riders delayed.
That’s a problem. Enter Hayden AI, a San Francisco-based startup deploying bus-mounted cameras that are programmed to capture and record vehicles blocking bus lanes. So far, cities using Hayden’s technology include D.C., New York, Oakland and Los Angeles. Other cities are in the process of procuring similar technology. In August, the Philadelphia Parking Authority put out an RFP for a bus camera enforcement system.